Quilt blocks

Here are the quilt blocks so far--it doesn't look like much, does it? These liberated churn dash blocks take time, I guess. I make them by using the base-block construction method in Gwen Marston's book called Liberated Quiltmaking II. First I cut out the blue background squares that are each 4 1/2 inches square. Then I cover the corners and edges with pieces of trim, in this case, yellow fabrics. Each part must be squared up and then the block is sewn together into a nine-patch. I must confess that I never planned how big this quilt is going to be, although I'm aiming for approximately twin size. I did not plan how many blocks I'm making, or how I'm going to assemble them. I'm just going to make a bunch more blocks, and then decide what to do--so to be continued--

Thanks so much to Amy for hostessing the Blogger's Quilt Festival. And thanks to Fat Quarter Shop for awarding me a prize of fat quarters!

I went to Florida

I went to Florida to visit. While there, we went to see the Norton Simon Museum at West Palm Beach. That interesting black construction in the above photo is a sculpture near the entrance. This museum is first class and I loved seeing the really wonderful art and sculpture. I would suggest visiting the museum to anyone who can get there! It's an inspiration. And I enjoyed having reunions with some relatives from both sides of my family.

I went to Boynton Beach. This picture above is the entrance to a restaurant.

This picture is on the wall at my favorite restaurant in Boyton Beach, ZaZa.

Now I'm home again and I hope to get back to my sewing really soon. I thought that I had gotten better from that cold I had, but it flared back up and I had to make an appointment to see my doctor. The further adventures of Roz---to be continued.

Beginning another quilt

I've been slow to post anything new this past week. I have a cold. Don't I hate when something like that happens. I'm still coughing. So, right before that hit me, I had made a start on a quilt for a young man--I think you can read his name here. This fabric is one of my favorite type of blue fabric--stuff that's cotton, but printed to look like denim. The pattern I decided on is a liberated churn dash or monkey wrench. It also has the titles Hole in the Barn Door, Double Monkey Wrench and Sherman's March. This is according to a book called "The Collector's Dictionary of Quilt Names and Patterns" by Yvonne M. Khin. I bought this book in the B.I. (before the Internet) days. So, as I was saying, I had just made this sample quilt square and started cutting out fabrics when this cold struck me down.
I had a lot of fun reading posts on the Blogger's Quilt Festival. It's fun to see what other quilters are doing. I'm sometimes amazed by the folks who seem to need a whole bunch of other quilters help in order to complete enough squares for a quilt. I guess I'm prejudiced. I remember starting my first quilt and muddling through. I didn't know enough to be intimidated, besides who else did I know in Brooklyn, New York (where I lived back then) in 1961 that knew how to make a quilt? So, what, I thought, I want to make one. I remember sitting in the park with my baby carriage and sewing a quilt block by hand. A lady asked me what I was making. "You can't make a quilt," she said, shaking her head, "you're making a quilt cover." I think she meant a duvet cover. Surprise lady!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I thought that I would share this quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I made this quilt for my granddaughter, and you can read her name right there in the middle! The lettering is free-pieced. I learned how to do this lettering from Tonya Ricucci, and I recommend her book Word Play Quilts. You will notice the liberated Shoo Fly blocks. Gwen Marston's book Liberated Quiltmaking II has directions for those. I have three young granddaughters. I thought that they would like to have colorful quilts for their beds with their names on them. I know that they followed the sewing process by reading my blog posts. When their aunt came to their house with three bags, she said, "Grandma sent three bags with a quilt in each one, but she didn't label the bags, so I don't know who each bag is for!" But the kids said, "Don't worry, Auntie, we'll find out right away!" Now the Blogger's Quilt Festival is at this link: http://amyscreativeside.com/

Applique Spools and Hearts Quilt

I made this quilt ages ago, I think in 2004. It's mostly made by applique, and is approximately 40 inches square. I saw a photo of a similar quilt in a magazine someplace. I wish I knew where, so if anyone out there has a copy of that old magazine, please send me the name of the designer! I'd like to thank and give her credit. However, I didn't follow the directions in the magazine, only the photo. I figured out how to put it together my own way. The spools were sewn separately, the edges turned under, and then machine appliqued to the quilt block. Over that, I hand embroidered with a blanket stitch. I then turned under the edges of the hearts, and hand appliqued them in position. I hand embroidered the hearts with a blanket stitch. Finally, this quilt is not quilted, instead it is tied by sewing on buttons. I have included a photo of the back of the quilt, which was pieced from scraps.

Wordless Wednesday--Long Beach CA airport

Log Cabin Baby quilt

This is the Log Cabin Baby Quilt all quilted and completed! I have machine appliqued a duck in the center. And it has 4 inch strips of fabric sewn all around. Some of the strips are baby-type fabric and some are not. The quilt measures about 39 by 49 inches. The backing is made of flannel. I machine quilted it using the free-motion method. This method is so simple, I recommend it for any small quilt. Safety-pin baste the quilt. Lower the feed dogs, or cover them with a feed-dog cover, whichever your machine will do. Use a free-motion foot on the machine. Set the stitches to very small. I have a pair of gloves that I wear to help control the fabric. I sew a small strip at a time. It helps to practice on a scrap of fabric and batting before beginning.